Friday, October 8, 2010

WASHINGTON -- During a period of universal warming 11 billion years ago, quasars -- the brilliant core of active galaxies -- produced fierce radiation blasts that stunted the growth of some dwarf galaxies for approximately 500 million years.

This important conclusion comes from a team of astronomers that used the new capabilities of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to probe the invisible, remote universe. The team's results will be published in the October 10, 2010 issue of The Astrophysical Journal.

Using Hubble's Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS), the astronomers identified this era, from 11.7 to 11.3 billion years ago, when the ultraviolet light emitted by active galaxies stripped electrons off helium atoms. The process, known as ionization, heated the intergalactic helium from 18,000 degrees Fahrenheit to nearly 40,000 degrees. This inhibited the gas from gravitationally collapsing to form new generations of stars in some small galaxies.

Because of its greatly improved sensitivity and lower background "noise" compared to previous spectrographs in space, the COS observations were ground-breaking. The observations allowed scientists to produce more detailed measurements of the intergalactic helium than previously possible.

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The Sophia Center

I was so fortunate to be led to participate in and graduate from the Masters Program in Culture and Spirituality at Holy Names University -Sophia Center. The weekend sessions enriched me in many ways. The theologians, cosmologists, historians, researchers, and Earth scientists, biblical scholars, artists, psychologists, dancers, musicians, sociologists, cultural workers, activists, poets, and others all brought a variety of enriching information presented in a variety of learning styles. My classmates, journeying with me, touched my heart by sharing many wonderful stories and experiences.

The meaningful immersion into and investigation of the convergent forces of religion, art, justice, and science provides me with an interior consciousness that enriches my life and activities on a daily basis.

Book Dedication

Dedicated to Thomas Berry and his vision for an ethical, spiritual and an eco friendly world.

Fr. Thomas Berry’s described his vision in his book, The Great Works.

Father Thomas Berry

Photo by Caroline Webb

Thomas Berry (1914 - 2009) wrote about the human relationship with the Earth and the universe with unrivalled perception, intelligence and grace. Through a series of books of essays, Berry articulated a new Earth-based spirituality that integrates the evolutionary perspectives of science with the feelings that inform religion and the arts. His work stands as a major contribution to the development of an ecological civilization in which the human fully recognizes and integrates with the Earth community.

In The Beginning

In the beginning was Power, intelligent, loving, energizing. In the beginning was the Word,supremely capable of mastering and moldingwhatever might come into being in the world of matter. In the beginning there were not coldness and darkness there was Fire.

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin SJ

1881 –1955

Justice

Dom Helder Camara counsels that we must carry a reverence for justice as a mother carries a reverence for her unborn child.